Urban Development

30 articles

A lively mixed-use urban street with apartments, shops, restaurants, and people enjoying the evening atmosphere.
Neighborhoods

What Are The Benefits and Challenges of Mixed-Use Zoning?

Between 2010 and 2020, mixed-use development constituted nearly 50 percent of all new commercial and multi-family development delivered in Montgomery County, according to Montgomery Planning .

Derek Molina·September 11, 2026
Split image contrasting a gentrified urban street with modern businesses against a historic neighborhood, symbolizing neighborhood change and gentrification.
Neighborhoods

What Is Gentrification and How Does it Change Neighborhoods?

Gentrification indications increased sevenfold from the 1970s to the 2010s, now impacting over half of all large US cities and accelerating neighborhood change in communities of color.

Derek Molina·September 6, 2026
A bustling, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood street with local shops, cafes, and green spaces, illustrating the 15-minute city concept.
Neighborhoods

What Are 15-Minute Cities and Why Do They Matter for Accessible Neighborhoods?

By 2050, annual solid waste production is projected to surge by 70% compared to 2016 levels, creating immense pressure on urban infrastructure and public health.

Derek Molina·August 31, 2026
A split image contrasting a gleaming modern city skyline with an older residential street showing a 'For Rent' sign, symbolizing the dual impact of city rankings.
Community

City rankings boost pride but can displace long-term residents

Oshkosh, Wisconsin, earned the No.

Derek Molina·August 31, 2026
A diverse group of people actively engaging in a thriving community garden, showcasing its social and environmental benefits.
Neighborhoods

What Are the Benefits of Local Community Gardens for Neighborhoods?

The establishment of a community garden has a statistically significant positive impact on residential properties situated within 1000 feet, an effect that grows stronger over time, according to nccom

Derek Molina·August 30, 2026
Split image contrasting a historic, diverse neighborhood with its gentrified, modern, and uniform counterpart, illustrating cultural change and displacement.
Neighborhoods

What is Gentrification and How Does It Reshape Neighborhood Culture?

In 2023, a study found that over 30% of long-term residents in historically Black neighborhoods in major U.

Derek Molina·August 23, 2026
A vibrant urban neighborhood in 2026, showcasing new development, revitalized architecture, and community spaces, symbolizing rising property values.
Real Estate

What Factors Influence Property Values in Urban Neighborhoods in 2026?

Building permit activity is significantly associated with reductions in crime across six large U.

Aaron Blake·August 21, 2026
Diverse business owners discussing the impact of Business Improvement Districts on a city street with mixed architecture.
Business Spotlights

What Are Business Improvement Districts and How Do They Impact Cities?

Shawn Rutter of the campaign Against Bid states that over 2,000 businesses have sought their help to challenge Business Improvement District (BID) creation, according to theguardian .

Marco Alvarez·August 20, 2026
A visual representation of gentrification showing new developments overshadowing older homes, symbolizing the erosion of community character and displacement of residents.
Community

Gentrification's rapid spread erodes community character and local economies.

The number of U.S. neighborhoods showing signs of gentrification has exploded sevenfold since the 1970s, transforming hundreds of communities and displacing countless residents. This widespread shift

Derek Molina·August 19, 2026
A visually striking image depicting the multifaceted changes in an urban neighborhood, showcasing the blend of old and new, and the diverse community within.
Neighborhoods

What Factors Influence Neighborhood Character and Evolution?

The number of US census tracts showing signs of gentrification surged sevenfold, from 246 in the 1970s to 1,807 by the 2010s, according to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) .

Aaron Blake·August 16, 2026
A diverse group of people walking and cycling through a green, accessible urban neighborhood with local shops and services nearby.
Neighborhoods

What Is the 15-Minute City Concept in Urban Planning?

Despite its promise of hyper-local convenience, empirical evidence consistently reveals significant intra-urban inequalities in how the 15-minute city concept actually performs across different neighb

Aaron Blake·August 14, 2026
A public sector worker contemplates a city skyline, symbolizing the wage disparity between public service and the private sector.
Services

Public Sector Pay Lags Private Sector Despite Rising US Labor Costs

In Austin, Texas, the average starting salary for a city planner increased by 3% over the last five years.

Marco Alvarez·August 11, 2026
A cityscape with skyscrapers and older buildings, overlaid with a complex blueprint, illustrating the impact of zoning laws on urban development and housing.
Real Estate

What Is The Impact of Local Zoning Laws on Urban Development?

To build a new apartment complex in many US cities, a developer might first need to submit six physical copies of plans drawn to a minimum size of 11x17 inches, only to discover the land isn't even zo

Aaron Blake·August 7, 2026
A futuristic, green cityscape with integrated parks, walkways, and diverse people enjoying the urban environment, symbolizing health-centric development.
Neighborhoods

What Is Health-Centric Urban Development and Why Does It Matter?

Phase Two of New York's QueensWay project secured over $100 million in federal funding, marking a significant investment in urban revitalization and green infrastructure.

Aaron Blake·August 1, 2026
A split view of a gentrifying urban neighborhood, showing modern skyscrapers juxtaposed with older residential buildings and diverse residents observing the changes.
Neighborhoods

What Are the Causes and Effects of Gentrification in Urban Neighborhoods?

By 2010, more than half of all large US cities contained at least one gentrifying neighborhood.

Derek Molina·July 19, 2026
A diverse group of people actively participating in various programs and services within a bright, modern library, showcasing its role as a community hub.
Services

What Is the Evolution of Local Libraries as Community Hubs?

The number of in-person visits to libraries per 100 people declined by 24% from 2009 to 2018, marking a significant shift in how individuals interact with these community resources.

Marco Alvarez·July 18, 2026
A city skyline illustrating the contrast between dense, diverse housing and sprawling low-density single-family neighborhoods, representing zoning law impacts.
Neighborhoods

What Are Zoning Laws and How Do They Affect Urban Development?

In U.S. cities, low-density residential zoning predominates, severely limiting housing opportunities for anyone who cannot afford a large home. This widespread preference for single-family housing, of

Derek Molina·July 18, 2026
A futuristic mixed-use urban community with residential towers, commercial spaces, green areas, and skybridges, bustling with people and drones.
Real Estate

2026 Urban Housing Development Trends Favor Mixed-Use Communities

On June 22, 2026, the U.

Aaron Blake·July 7, 2026
A diverse cityscape illustrating the effects of zoning laws on urban development, showing contrasting neighborhood styles and densities.
Neighborhoods

What Is Zoning and Why Does It Impact Urban Development?

In Sydney, Australia, an average house valued at $1.

Derek Molina·July 6, 2026
Futuristic cityscape with holographic data overlays and a dynamic 3D map, illustrating advanced urban planning tools.
Local Guides

How Evolving City Maps Use Digital Tools to Optimize Urban Planning

A city planner in 2026 can now generate a high-fidelity 3D urban scene from a simple text prompt, or design a building that adapts its structure in real-time to environmental changes.

Derek Molina·July 3, 2026
A diverse urban neighborhood with a highlighted 'Promise Zone' showing signs of economic growth and community development.
Neighborhoods

How Does Neighborhood Designation Work?

In neighborhoods designated as "Promise Zones," poverty rates dropped by 2.

Derek Molina·July 2, 2026
Diverse group of young professionals enjoying a vibrant, developing urban neighborhood with modern architecture and lively atmosphere.
Neighborhoods

Top 5 Developing Neighborhoods for Young Professionals

In a city where average 1-bedroom rent soared 18% in two years, 'The Rail Yards' neighborhood offers a vibrant tech scene and cultural amenities for $1,800 a month – 30% below the city average, accord

Derek Molina·June 28, 2026
A bustling street in a historic urban neighborhood showcasing diverse architecture, people, and a blend of old and new elements.
Neighborhoods

What Factors Define a Neighborhood's Unique Character?

In San Francisco's Mission District, median rent surged by 60% between 2010 and 2020, fundamentally reshaping its demographics and challenging its long-held identity, reports the SF Planning Departmen

Derek Molina·June 28, 2026
An artist's rendering of the proposed Bronzeville Trail elevated bike path, showcasing its modern design integrated with urban greenery and city skyline.
Best in City

Soil testing begins for Bronzeville Trail elevated bike path construction

Environmental soil testing has just begun for Chicago's Bronzeville Trail, a project estimated to cost $100 million and not expected to be fully completed until 2033, according to Block Club Chicago a

Hannah Pierce·June 23, 2026
A visual representation of the conflict between preserving historic city charm and embracing modern architectural development.
Neighborhoods

Cities Clash Over Charm and Modern Development

In Excelsior, Minnesota, a proposal to redevelop the historic Dock Cinema property has ignited a fierce debate, pitting calls for urban revitalization directly against the desire for historic preserva

Derek Molina·June 22, 2026
Orlando's historic buildings juxtaposed against modern skyscrapers under a dramatic twilight sky, representing the conflict between development and preservation.
Community

Orlando's Historic Preservation Board review suspended

On June 8, the Orlando City Council advanced an ordinance to suspend all Historic Preservation Board review for three years across its Downtown Historic District, including for demolitions.

Derek Molina·June 21, 2026
A new 29-story high-rise apartment building adjacent to a newly built 11,000-square-foot public park in Chicago's West Loop.
Best in City

West Loop Approves New High-Rise & Public Park

After years of rapid, often amenity-light development, a new 29-story apartment high-rise at 215 N.

Hannah Pierce·June 18, 2026
The Chicago skyline at dusk, highlighting the Greyhound bus station, symbolizing urban development and a new chapter for the city.
Best in City

City Acquires Greyhound Station for $19.2 Million

With a 38-10 vote, Chicago aldermen approved a $19.

Hannah Pierce·June 18, 2026
Concerned North Nashville residents gather near historic Fisk University buildings, facing a massive, modern construction site representing a $900 million campus overhaul.
Neighborhoods

Protecting city neighborhoods from rapid development is a battle

Fisk University, a historic institution, plans a 100,000 square foot data center as part of a $900 million campus overhaul, sparking immediate alarm among its North Nashville neighbors.

Derek Molina·June 10, 2026
A bustling, pedestrian-friendly street in the Tri-Cities, showcasing local shops and cafes with people enjoying a leisurely stroll.
Local Guides

Walkable Shopping Pockets in the Tri-Cities

In the rapidly expanding Tri-Cities, a 'walkable shopping district' often means finding a single bar on a parkway or a restaurant tucked inside a mall.

Hannah Pierce·June 10, 2026